Atom x5-Z8330 vs Pentium B960
Atom x5-Z8330
Pentium B960
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Atom x5-Z8330 is positioned at rank 778 and the Pentium B960 is on rank 1144, so the Atom x5-Z8330 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-Z8330
Performance Per Dollar Pentium B960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom x5-Z8330 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Airmont (2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom x5-Z8330 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Atom x5-Z8330 and Pentium B960
Atom x5-Z8330
The Atom x5-Z8330 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 February 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Airmont (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.44 GHz, with boost up to 1.92 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Memory support: DDR3L-RS 1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,025 points. Launch price was $69.
Pentium B960
The Pentium B960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,019 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
The Atom x5-Z8330 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium B960 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Atom x5-Z8330 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.92 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8330 versus 2.2 GHz on the Pentium B960 — a 13.6% clock advantage for the Pentium B960 (base: 1.44 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Atom x5-Z8330 uses the Airmont (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium B960 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x5-Z8330 scores 1,025 against the Pentium B960's 1,019 — a 0.6% lead for the Atom x5-Z8330. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom x5-Z8330 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B960.
| Feature | Atom x5-Z8330 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.92 GHz | 2.2 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 1.44 GHz | 2.2 GHz+53% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Airmont (2016) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,025 | 1,019 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 383 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 679 |
Memory & Platform
Both support up to DDR3L-RS 1600 memory speed. The Pentium B960 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom x5-Z8330) vs 2 (Pentium B960). PCIe lanes: 1 (Atom x5-Z8330) vs 16 (Pentium B960) — the Pentium B960 offers 15 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom x5-Z8330) and HM76 (Pentium B960).
| Feature | Atom x5-Z8330 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-RS 1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 16 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 1 | 16+1500% |
Advanced Features
Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) (Atom x5-Z8330) and HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Pentium B960) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium B960 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Pentium B960 rivals AMD A8-3500M.
| Feature | Atom x5-Z8330 | Pentium B960 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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